Reif's cold face was expressionless. He looked at Joe Chessman who stood stolidly to one side, gun still in hand.
Reif said, "You can supply such weapons to my armies?"
Plekhanov said, "That is our intention, in time."
Reif came erect. "Subject to the approval of the clan leaders, I am now Khan. Tell me more of this State of which you have spoken."
IV.
The sergeant stopped the small company about a quarter of a mile from the city of Bari. His detachment numbered only ten but they were well armed with short swords and blunderbusses and wore mail and steel helmets. On the face of it, they would have been a match for ten times this number of merchants.
It was hardly noon but the sergeant had obviously already been at his wine flask. He leered at them. "And where do you think you go?"
The merchant who led the rest was a thin little man but he was richly robed and astride a heavy black mare. He said, "To Bari, soldier." He drew a paper from a pouch. "I hold this permission from Baron Mannerheim to pass through his lands with my people and chattels."
The leer turned mercenary. "Unfortunately, city man, I can't read. What do you carry on the mules?"